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17-Year-Old Boxer Tubagus Sakti Dies in the Ring in Indonesia (Video)

I apologize in advance: this is the most depressing sports-related story you’ll read all week.

On Sunday, January 27, in Jakarta, Indonesia, a junior flyweight title bout between two 17-year-old boxers was halted in the 8th round. Ical Tobida was handed the victory by technical knock-out after Tubagus Sakti threw up his hands and gave up.

Unfortunately, it was probably too late for Sakti. And if it wasn’t, the last three or four punches that Tobida threw after Sakti had put up his hands did him in. Because not long after the end of the bout, Sakti collapsed in his corner and went into convulsions. Medical personelle rushed to treat the boy, putting him on oxygen and carrying him off to the hospital on a stretcher. However, Tubagus Sakta was later pronounced dead at the hospital as a result of a brain hemorrhage.

Talk about a tragedy. Obviously, this could have been prevented. Even if you don’t have a problem with 17-year-olds boxing (and I must say I find it a little problematic), you could say that they should have been wearing helmets, or that they should have been trained better, or that the referee should have stepped in sooner. But none of these things happened, and now a 17-year-old boy is dead.

In any case, here’s footage from the end of the bout. It’s not particularly graphic in the traditional sense of the word. There’s very little blood, no bones are broken, and no teeth go flying. But knowing the outcome definitely makes it a little hard to watch. So if you’re the type who tears up easily, don’t watch it at work.